Chassis with repositionable plates

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and devices are described for a chassis with repositionable plates. An apparatus, including a chassis having a first module bay with a first plate mounting bracket, a second module bay with a second plate mounting bracket and a repositionable plate that is removably connectable to the first plate mounting bracket and removably connectable to said second plate mounting bracket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] I. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of electricalequipment. More particularly, the invention relates to chassis mountedmodular electrical equipment.

[0003] II. Description of Related Art

[0004] An electrical chassis should allow for custom configurations anda relatively high density of components. A modular design of both thechassis and the equipment modules provides a customer with the abilityto easily select and install the equipment modules necessary for aspecific application.

[0005] Designs of electrical equipment generally include a chassis witha plurality of individual components and assemblies mounted therein andconnected to the chassis and/or to one another by one or more bus,wires, cables, brackets, nuts, bolts and the like. The modularity ofelectrical systems is an important design consideration. Modules can beremoved and examined for operability, replaced, or repositioned mucheasier than permanently mounted fixtures within a rack or chassis. It isimportant to maintain the reliability and integrity of the system. Whenthe various elements of an electrical system can be easily removed in amodular form, they can also be easily replaced to maintain theoperational status of the electrical system. A chassis preferablyensures easy access, simple installation and fast maintenance.

[0006] Most chassis designs are restricted in the location andorientation of modular components placed in the chassis. For example,the bays for the modular components typically allow only for entry fromthe rear of the chassis. What is required is an approach that allowsflexibility in the location and orientation of modular components withinthe chassis. The invention is directed to meeting these requirements,among others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Thus, there is need for the following embodiments. One embodimentof the invention is based on an apparatus, comprising a chassisincluding a first module bay and a second module bay, said first modulebay and said second module bay together composing both a forward sectionand rearward section.

[0008] Another embodiment of the invention is based on a method,comprising providing a chassis with a first module bay and a secondmodule bay, said first module bay and said second module bay togethercomposing a forward section and rearward section.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is based on a kit, comprisinga chassis including a first module bay and a second module bay, saidfirst module bay and said second module bay together composing both aforward section and a rearward section.

[0010] Another embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatuscomprising a chassis including a first module bay having a first platemounting bracket and a second module bay having a second plate mountingbracket; and a repositionable plate that is removably connectable tosaid first plate mounting bracket and removably connectable to saidsecond plate mounting bracket. Further embodiments of the currentinvention comprise a communications network, comprising the apparatusdescribed hereinabove and a method for deploying a communicationsnetwork.

[0011] Another embodiment of the invention is based on a methodcomprising: providing a chassis with a first module bay having a firstplate mounting bracket and a second module bay having a second platemounting bracket; and connecting a repositionable plate to said firstplate mounting bracket, said repositionable plate removable from saidfirst plate mounting bracket and removably connectable to said secondplate mounting bracket.

[0012] Another embodiment of the invention comprises a kit, comprising:a chassis including a first module bay having a first plate mountingbracket and a second module bay having a, second plate mounting bracket;and a repositionable plate that is removably connectable to said firstplate mounting bracket and removably connectable to said second platemounting bracket.

[0013] These, and other embodiments of the invention will be betterappreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings. It should beunderstood, however, that the following description, while indicatingpreferred embodiments of the invention and numerous specific detailsthereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Manychanges and modifications may be made within the scope of the inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includesall such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A clear conception of the advantages and features constitutingthe invention, and of the components and operation of model systemsprovided with the invention, will become more readily apparent byreferring to the exemplary, and therefore nonlimiting, embodimentsillustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference characters designate the sameparts. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0015] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate orthographic views of a modulerepresenting an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate orthographic views of a repositionableplate that can be used with the module of FIGS. 1A-1C, representing anembodiment of the invention.

[0017] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate orthographic views of another module,representing an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate orthographic views of a repositionableplate that can be used with the module of FIGS. 3A-3C, representing anembodiment of the invention.

[0019] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate orthographic views of a chassis,representing an embodiment of the invention.

[0020]FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate orthographic views of the module,repositionable plate and chassis depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C, 4A-4C and5A-5C, respectively.

[0021]FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate orthographic views of the modulerepositionable plate and chassis depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A-2C and5A-5C, respectively.

[0022]FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a chassis comprising twomodular bays and an intersection board, representing an embodiment ofthe invention.

[0023]FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate schematic views of a chassis comprisingtwo modular bays and a module, representing an embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS I. THE INVENTION

[0024] The invention and the various features and advantageous detailsthereof are explained more fully with reference to the nonlimitingembodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddetailed in the following description of preferred embodiments.Descriptions of well known components and processing techniques areomitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 8, a chassis is depicted comprising two modulebay sections, including two module bay forward sections 30 and twomodule bay rearward sections 31. There can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 40, or more forwardand rearward module bay sections in the chassis. The forward andrearward sections comprise the area between the front of the chassis andthe intersection board 34 and the area between the intersection board 34and the rear of the chassis. The chassis comprises an intersection board34 between the forward and rearward module bay sections. If theintersection board 34 is placed substantially symmetrically between theforward 30 and rearward 31 module bay sections, it is also referred toas a midplane board. The intersection board 34 may be located in anyplane in the interior of the chassis between the front 40 and the rear41 of the chassis. The intersection board 34 may be located about 10%,about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about70%, about 75%, about 80%, or about 90% of the way from the front of thechassis 40 to the rear of the chassis 41. The intersection board 34 isshown extending the entire width of the chassis. The intersection board34 in FIG. 8 will extend at least a portion of the interior width of thechassis; it may extend the width of less than about 10%, about 20%,about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about90%, or about 100% of the interior chassis width. The height of theintersection board 34 shown in FIG. 8 is less than the interior heightof the chassis. The height may be about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.3, about0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, or about 0.9 times theinterior height of the chassis.

[0026] There is no difference between the forward and rearward sectionsof the chassis as demonstrated in FIG. 8. The terms “front” or “forward”and “rear”, “back”, or “rearward” when referring to the chassis are notrelated to the orientation of the chassis in a room or to theorientation relative to the force of gravity. These terms are usedsolely for the convenience of demarcation and communicating relativepositions within the chassis. If a chassis of the current invention isrotated 180° and the “front” and “rear” are relabeled, there would be nofunctional difference between the chassis before rotation and thechassis after rotation.

[0027] Still referring to FIG. 8, the intersection board 34 can be avirtual intersection board. A virtual plane is created when a pluralityof modules are coupled to each other. Modules at least in-part withinthe forward and the rearward sections of a modular bay or at leastin-part within adjacent modular bays may be connected to each otherinstead of an intersection board. These electronic connectors create avirtual plane within the chassis which extends in a directionsubstantially parallel to the front and rear faces of the chassis. It iscontemplated that the virtual intersection board 34 span a portion ofthe interior width of the chassis. For example, a module located atleast in-part within a forward section of a module bay can beelectronically coupled at a point located substantially symmetricallybetween the front of the chassis and the back of the chassis to a modulelocated at least in-part within the rearward bay section of the chassis.Modules in adjoining module bay sections may or may not also beelectronically coupled to each other or to the modules previouslydescribed. To couple modules in adjoining bay sections, it would berequired to have a connector on the modules facing substantiallyorthogonal to the direction of insertion for the module such that theconnector would contact a similar connector when a module was insertedinto an adjacent modular bay. The height, width, and location within thechassis of the virtual intersection board 34 may be varied similarly tothat of an intersection board. The virtual intersection board 34 may belocated about 10%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 40%, about50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 75%, about 80%, or about 90% of the wayfrom the front of the chassis to the rear of the chassis. The virtualintersection board 34 will extend at least a portion of the interiorwidth of the chassis; it may extend the width of less than about 10%,about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about80%, about 90%, or about 100% of the interior chassis width. The heightof the virtual intersection board 34 is less than the interior height ofthe chassis. The height may be about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.3, about0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, or about 0.9 times theinterior height of the chassis.

[0028] An additional board, an intermediate board, may be coupled to thechassis. The intermediate board is located either between theintersection board 34 and the front of the chassis or between theintersection board 34 and the rear of the chassis. For example, anintersection board may be located substantially symmetrically between afront of the chassis and a back of the chassis. An intermediate boardmay be located substantially symmetrically between an intermediate boardand a back of the chassis. The intermediate board may also be a virtualintermediate board. For example, the intermediate board may be solidstate while the intersection board is be virtual or both theintermediate board and the intersection board are virtual. More than oneintermediate board may be located within a chassis.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 9A, a chassis is shown with a module 50positioned to be inserted into both a forward 30 and a rearward 31modular bay section. The module 50 positioned to be inserted into therearward modular bay section 31 is shown as a solid component and themodule 50 positioned to be inserted into the forward modular bay sectionis shown by dotted lines. The module 50 comprises two different heightssuch that the height of the end of the module inserted into the modulebay first is less than the height of the end of the module that willcontact the chassis last. Connectors 51, represented by the diamond andsquare in the upper part of the module, can connect to the intersectionboard or an intermediate board within the chassis. The connectors 51 canalso connect to another module to create a virtual intersection board.It is contemplated that the connectors on the module could be positionedat various positions between the two ends of the module. For example,the connector could be halfway between ends of the module as shown inFIG. 9A. The connectors could be located about 10%, about 20%, about30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, or about 90%of the way from end of the module that is inserted into the module bay.

[0030] Although FIG. 9A is drawn such that any intersection board mustbe located in the upper half of the chassis to connect to the module 50,it is understood that the designations of top and bottom can easily bereversed. A chassis of the current invention with an intersection boardlocated at the bottom of the chassis would require the module 50 shownin FIG. 9A to be vertically flipped 180° before insertion into thechassis.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 9B, the chassis and module 50 of FIG. 9A isshown after insertion of the module 50. The orientation of the insertedmodule 50 is depicted in FIG. 9A as having solid lines. A repositionableplate 20 is shown in an orientation for connection through one or moreconnectors 52 with the chassis and module 50. The repositionable plate20 is configured such that it can be connected to the chassis via platemounting brackets located on the module bays of the chassis. If a module50 is inserted into the front of the chassis, the repositionable platewould then be connected to the chassis and module 50 from the back ofthe chassis. The repositionable plate comprises a plurality of elements53 which can include manually actuatable fasteners such as thumb screws,ventilation slots and electrical feedthroughs which are capable ofconducting power or communicating data.

[0032] A repositionable plate is modular in nature. Repositionableplates can interchangeably be connected to the module bays of thechassis. A repositional plate may be sized to connect to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5or more module bays. It can be seen from FIGS. 2A-2C and 4A-4C that therepositionable plate of FIGS. 4A-4C is twice the width of therepositionable plate of FIGS. 2A-2C. Similarly, the module of FIGS.3A-3C is twice the width of the module of FIGS. 1A-1C. It is an aspectof the current invention that one module and/or one repositionable plateis connected to a plurality of modular bays.

[0033] It is not necessary that a repositionable plate connected to achassis be connected to a module located in the modular bay directlybehind the repositionable plate. The repositionable plate may beconnected to a module located in any of the module bays in the chassisby means of wires, cables, or other connectors in the interior of thechassis. This allows for the placement of connections external to thechassis into more preferred positions without creating a “rats nest” ofwires.

[0034] The particular material used for the repositionable plates shouldbe strong and durable. Conveniently, the repositionable plates of theinvention can be made of any metal material. If a conductive material isused, it is preferred that the material be coated with an insulatinglayer such as, for example, paint. For the manufacturing operation, itis an advantage to employ a cold rolled sheet steel material.

[0035] However, the particular material selected for the repositionableplates is not essential to the invention, as long as it provides thedescribed function. Normally, those who make or use the invention willselect the best commercially available material based upon the economicsof cost and availability, the expected application requirements of thefinal product, and the demands of the overall manufacturing process.

[0036] The particular manufacturing process used for fabricating therepositionable plates should be inexpensive and reproducible.Conveniently, the manufacture of the repositionable plates of theinvention can be carried out by using any sheet metal fabricationmethod. If sheet metal is used, it is preferred that the processingstart with perforating, followed by forming, and then optional paintingand attachment of hardware (e.g., feed-throughs, thumbscrews,etceteras).

[0037] However, the particular manufacturing process used for making therepositionable plates is not essential to the invention as long as itprovides the described functionality. Normally those who make or use theinvention will select the manufacturing process based upon tooling andenergy requirements, the expected application requirements of the finalproduct, and the demands of the overall manufacturing process.

[0038] The invention can also be included in a kit. The kit can includesome, or all, of the components that compose the invention. Morespecifically, the kit can include a chassis, the module bay sections andother components of the invention. The kit can also include anintersection board or an intermediate board. The kit can also containinstructions for practicing the invention and apparatus for carrying outthe invention. Unless otherwise specified, the components (and apparatusand/or instructions) of the kit can be the same as those used in theinvention.

[0039] The term substantially, as used herein, is defined as at leastapproaching a given state (e.g., preferably within 10% of, morepreferably within 1% of, and most preferably within. 0.1% of). The termcoupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The termdeploying, as used herein, is defined as designing, building, shipping,installing and/or operating. As used in the specification, “a” or “an”mean one or more. As used in the claim(s), when used in conjunction withthe word “comprising”, the words “a” or “an” mean one or more than one.As used herein “another” may mean at least a second or more.

II. EXAMPLES

[0040] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be furtherdescribed by the following, nonlimiting examples which will serve toillustrate in some detail various features of significance. The examplesare intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which theinvention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in theart to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention.

Example 1

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the module comprises at least onemanually actuatable fastener 10 located at the closed end of the module12 or the communicating end of the module 14. A power connector 11 isconnected at the midpoint of the module. A fan 21, an RF connector 23,and at least one optical connector 25 are located at the communicatingend of the module 14. A variety of other elements may also be located atthe communicating end of the module 14. The power connector 11 can belocated at various positions between the closed end 12 and thecommunicating end 14 of the module.

[0042] The repositionable plate 20 which is configured for connection tothe module of FIGS. 1A-1C is depicted in FIGS. 2A-2C. The repositionableplate comprises manually actuatable fasteners 10, a plurality ofventilation slots 22 which can be operationally connected to the fan 21,an RF feed-through 24 which can be operationally connected to a RFconnector 23, and at least one optical feed-through 26 each of which canbe independently operationally connected to optical connectors 25. Therepositionable plate 20 of FIGS. 2A-2C can be connected to thecommunicating end of the module 14 of FIGS. 1A-1C and to the platemounting bracket on a chassis. The repositionable plate 20 is removablewithout tools, and can include a plurality of manually actuatablefasteners, an electrical feedthrough, and a plurality of ventilationslots.

Example 2

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, the power supply module comprises atleast one manually actuatable fastener 10 located at the closed end ofthe module 12 or the communicating end of the module 14. A plurality ofpower connector 11 are connected at the midpoint of the module. A fan 21and an AC inlet 27 are located at the communicating end of the module14. A variety of other elements may also be located at the communicatingend of the module 14. As in FIGS. 1A-1C, the power connector 11 can belocated at various positions between the closed end 12 and thecommunicating end 14 of the module.

[0044] The repositionable plate 20 which is configured for connection tothe module of FIGS. 3A-3C is depicted in FIGS. 4A-4C. The repositionableplate comprises manually actuable fasteners 10, a plurality ofventilation slots 22 which can be operationally connected to a fan 21and an electric feed-through 28 which can be operationally connected toan AC inlet 27. The repositionable plate 20 of FIGS. 4A-4C may beconnected to the communicating end of the module 14 of FIGS. 2A-2C andto the plate mounting bracket on a chassis.

Example 3

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, a chassis is depicted comprising aplurality of module bay sections, including a plurality of module bayforward sections 30 and a plurality of module bay rearward sections 31.Repositionable plate mounting brackets 38 are connected to the chassisat the outside edge of each module bay forward sections 30 and modulebay rearward sections 31. A plurality of connectors 36 are locatedbetween the forward and rearward module bay sections and are used forconnecting modules to the module bay sections 30-31. 16 modular baysections are shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, any of which could be described as afirst or a second modular bay section. The location of the first andsecond modular bay section within the chassis is not important to theinvention. Card guides 45 are positioned near the bottom cover 51 of thechassis and are used for guiding modules into the module bay sections30-31. On the exterior of the chassis optional cabinet mounts 52,handles 53 and a rack mount 54 are included.

[0046] Still referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, an intersection board 34 ismechanically coupled to the chassis with front holders 32 and rearholders 33. The intersection board 34 is orthogonal to the front andrear faces of the chassis. As depicted midway between the front and therear of the chassis, the intersection board 34 can also be described asa midplane board. The intersection board 34 can also be located atdifferent distances between the front and rear of the chassis. The onlydifference between the “forward” and “rearward” sections of the chassisis that there are exterior handles and cabinet mount on the exterior ofthe forward section.

Example 4

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a side view of the chassis is shownwith a power supply module inserted in a module bay wherein thecommunicating end 14 of the module is operational engagement with arepositionable plate 20. The power supply module in FIGS. 6A and 6B isidentical to the power supply module described in example 2. One or moremanually actuatable fasteners 10 are used to couple the repositionableplate 20 to the repositionable plate mounting bracket 38 on the chassis.The power supply module is coupled to the module bay through aconnection between the power connector 11 and the intersection board 34.

[0048]FIG. 6A illustrates the chassis with the module inserted from thefront. FIG. 6B illustrate the chassis with the module inserted from theback. In FIGS. 6A and 6BA, the module is inserted into a modular bayfrom the front of the chassis. The repositionable plate 20 isoperational contacted with the communicating end 14 of the module andconnected to the rear of the chassis 41 using a repositionable platemounting bracket 38.

[0049] In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the module is inserted into a modular bayfrom the rear of the chassis. The repositionable plate 20 isoperationally contacted with the communicating end 14 of the module andconnected to the front of the chassis 40 using a repositionable platemounting bracket 38.

Example 5

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a side view of the chassis is shownwith a module inserted in a module bay wherein the communicating end 14of the module is operational engagement with a repositionable plate 20.The module in FIGS. 6A and 6B is identical to the module described inexample 1. One or more manually actuatable fasteners 10 are used tocouple the repositionable plate 20 to the repositionable plate mountingbracket 38 on the chassis. The power supply module is coupled to themodule bay through a connection between the power connector 11 and theintersection board 34.

[0051]FIG. 7A illustrate the chassis with the module inserted from thefront. FIG. 7B illustrate the chassis with the module inserted from theback.

[0052] In FIGS. 7A and 7BA, the module is inserted into a modular bayfrom the front of the chassis. The repositionable plate 20 isoperational contacted with the communicating end 14 of the module andconnected to the rear of the chassis 41 using a repositionable platemounting bracket 38.

[0053] In FIGS. 7A and 7BB, the module is inserted into a modular bayfrom the rear of the chassis. The repositionable plate 20 isoperationally contacted with the communicating end 14 of the module andconnected to the front of the chassis 40 using a repositionable platemounting bracket 38.

Practical Applications of the Invention

[0054] A practical application of the invention that has value withinthe technological arts is rack mounted electrical equipment. Theinvention is useful in conjunction with communication networks, (e.g.LAN, MAN and/or WAN). There are virtually innumerable uses for theinvention, all of which need not be detailed here.

Advantages of the Invention

[0055] A chassis representing an embodiment of the invention, can becost effective and advantageous for at least the following reasons.

[0056] The intermediate board or virtual intermediate board allows for agreater variety of positions for placement of the modular components.This greatly increases the versatility of the modular system. Thisinvention allows for a high density of modules to be placed in achassis, reducing the number of chassis and thereby the cost required inan electrical system.

[0057] The ability to separate the module from the back plate allows forreplacement of only the part which needs replacement. The availabilityof a variety of positions for placement of both the modules and therepositionable plates allows for a versatility in the chassisconfiguration not allowable with the prior art. The reduction in numberof wires external to the chassis (i.e., removing a “rat's nest”) reducesthe amount of time required to trace wires or cables to find necessaryconnections when reconfiguring the electrical system.

[0058] The intermediate board or virtual intermediate board allows for agreater variety of positions for placement of the modular components.This greatly increases the versatility of the modular system. Thisinvention allows for a high density of modules to be placed in achassis, reducing the number of chassis and thereby the cost required inan electrical system.

[0059] All the embodiments of the invention disclosed and claimed hereincan be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this inventionhave been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will beapparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied tothe methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methoddescribed herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described herein.

[0060] For example, the individual components need not be formed in thedisclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but couldbe provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually anyconfiguration. Further, the individual components need not be fabricatedfrom the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually anysuitable materials. Further, although the chassis, repositionable platesand modules described herein can be physically separate, it will bemanifest that the chassis, repositionable plates and modules may beintegrated into the apparatus with which they are associated.Furthermore, all the disclosed elements and features of each disclosedembodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosedelements and features of every other disclosed embodiment except wheresuch elements or features are mutually exclusive.

[0061] It will be manifest that various additions, modifications andrearrangements of the features of the invention may be made withoutdeviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept.It is intended that the scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims and their equivalents cover all such additions,modifications, and rearrangements.

[0062] The appended claims are not to be interpreted as includingmeans-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitlyrecited in a given claim using the phrase “means for” or “step for.”Expedient embodiments of the invention are differentiated by theappended subclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a chassis including afirst module bay having a first plate mounting bracket and a secondmodule bay having a second plate mounting bracket; and a repositionableplate that is removably connectable to said first plate mounting bracketand removably connectable to said second plate mounting bracket.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said repositionable plate is removablewithout tools.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said repositionableplate includes a plurality of manually actuatable fasteners.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said repositionable plate includes anelectrical feedthrough.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidrepositionable plate includes a plurality of ventilation slots.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said repositionable plate isreconfigurable.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chassisincludes a midplane board.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a module coupled to said chassis and located in at least onebay selected from the group consisting of said first module bay and saidsecond module bay.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said firstmodule bay and said second module bay are adjacent further comprising amodule coupled to said chassis and located in at least said first modulebay and said second module bay.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a rack coupled to said chassis.
 11. A method for deploying acommunications network which comprises utilizing the apparatus ofclaim
 1. 12. A communications network, comprising the apparatus ofclaim
 1. 13. A method, comprising: providing a chassis with a firstmodule bay having a first plate mounting bracket and a second module bayhaving a second plate mounting bracket; and connecting a repositionableplate to said first plate mounting bracket, said repositionable plateremovable from said first plate mounting bracket and removablyconnectable to said second plate mounting bracket.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising positioning a module within said firstmodule bay and electrically coupling said module to said repositionableplate.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said repositionable plate isconnected to said first plate mounting bracket without tools.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein said repositionable plate is connected tosaid first plate mounting bracket with manually actuatable fasteners.17. The method of claim 13, further comprising forcing air throughventilation slots located in said repositionable plate.
 18. The methodof claim 13, further comprising conducting power through an electricfeedthrough located in said repositionable plate.
 19. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising communicating data through an electricfeedthrough located in said repositionable plate.
 20. An apparatus forperforming the method of claim
 13. 21. A kit, comprising: a chassisincluding a first module bay having a first plate mounting bracket and asecond module bay having a second plate mounting bracket; and arepositionable plate that is removably connectable to said first platemounting bracket and removably connectable to said second plate mountingbracket.
 22. The kit of claim 21, further comprising instructions.